Lindsey Graham and Chuck Schumer Propose National ID Cards

As part of their immigration reform legislation, Sen. Lindsey Graham and Chuck Schumer are proposing all Americans get national ID cards. The cards would be high-tech social security cards and required to obtain employment in the U.S.

“We would require all U.S. citizens and legal immigrants who want jobs to obtain a high-tech, fraud-proof Social Security card. Each card’s unique biometric identifier would be stored only on the card; no government database would house everyone’s information,” they said. “The cards would not contain any private information, medical information or tracking devices. The card would be a high-tech version of the Social Security card that citizens already have.”

“Because of the ID card’s proposed universality, it will likely be requested and required by airlines, insurance agencies, health care providers, mortgage lenders, credit card companies, and so forth...”

....This proposal should grit the teeth and narrow the eyes of anyone who has carefully considered the dangers of a national, biometric-carrying identification card scheme. Like other national ID proposals, this one seems to naively assume that technology and federalization can provide an across-the-board "upgrade" to existing identification schemes, when in reality it spawns a beastly tangle of complex issues.

Cato has more on how this will turn into a giant national identity database.

The biometric national identification scheme Senators Schumer and Graham propose is much, much more than a “high-tech” Social Security card. It’s the biggest, most difficult identity system ever proposed. It will take decades and tens or hundreds of billions of taxpayer dollars to build.

About the only similarity between today’s Social Security card and the biometric national ID card these senators propose is that they’re both rectangular.

It would also subject every employment decision to the federal government’s approval. It would make surveillance of law-abiding citizens easier. It would allow the government to control access to health care. It would facilitate gun control. It would cost $100 billion dollars or more. It would draw bribery and corruption into the Social Security Administration. It would promote the development of sophisticated biometric identity fraud. How long should I go on?

A biometric ID system is not about securing the border or preventing terrorism. It is about tracking citizens.

“By far the most significant negative aspect of biometric ID systems is their potential to locate and track people physically. While many surveillance systems seek to locate and track, biometric systems present the greatest danger precisely because they promise extremely high accuracy. Whether a specific biometric system actually poses a risk of such tracking depends on how it is designed,” explains the Electronic Frontier Foundation.

Lindsey Graham has become the biggest threat to freedom since Rudy Giuliani. That Democrats and the Obama Administration are providing him a platform is inexcusable.

maybe. But, why in the world would Senator Schumer suit up with Graham on something like this? Schumer is a pretty smart guy so it seems he knows that this will not get the Democrats any Republican votes, and the courtship is not even going to defang the wingers so they might stay home and not vote. On its value? The old social security cards work just fine, lamination keeps them from becoming dog-eared if that is the issue. Unless, just unless there is something else underlying this good republidem idea.

If clowns like this are going to have to start carrying national id cards, and someone hacks their account somehow and gets access to all their information: social security (which will give them access to credit history), medical, insurance, whatever. Can you imagine the nightmare that would ensue from anyone getting this information stolen? But wouldn't it be sweet if it came back to bite Lindsey - years of paperwork to get things straightened out, the results of his prostate exams on the internet, etc.?

May 27, 2005After Bitter Fight, REAL ID Act Becomes Law
On May 11th, President Bush signed into law a military spending bill that included the REAL ID Act - the most egregious legislative assault on immigrants' rights in almost a decade. Unfortunately, REAL ID's punitive driver's license and immigration provisions are "junk" security measures that only scapegoat immigrants and drive them further underground.....

.....Unfortunately, New York's Senators Clinton and Schumer were both missing in action - neither spoke out against REAL ID when it was debated on the Senate floor and in conference committee. Only after it was included in the final appropriations bill - and awaiting President Bush's inevitable signature - did Senator Clinton make a statement expressing limited criticism of some of the provisions.

Applicants for driver's licenses would not be required to prove legal immigration status and would be allowed to present a foreign passport as identification.[2] At that point, eight other states did not require individuals to prove their legal immigration status when applying for a driver's licenses.[3] Spitzer said that the new policy would help all New Yorkers by improving traffic safety, because unlicensed drivers are nearly five times as likely to be in fatal car crashes compared to licensed drivers.[2] Spitzer also claimed that the policy would effectively allow illegal immigrants to buy auto insurance, which would reduce the number of uninsured drivers in the state and therefore decrease insurance premiums for all New Yorkers by an estimated $120 million.[2]

the only thing the Dems and the WH are providing Lindsey Graham; I think that's one of their own - Chuck Schumer - standing right next to him. Imagine that. [Hi, Chuck! Are you the designated legitimizer-of-Republican-ideas today?]

I used to think Democrats were a bulwark against this kind of Big Brother-ism, but not any more.

Authoritarianism lives, and it turns out more than a few Dems - including Obama - are big fans; golly, I feel so much better now that the Dems are in charge, don't you?

Both NY Senators Clinton (out of office) and Schumer supported real ID years ago. Why? Because the voters wanted it; 70% of the voters that is.

Spitzer tried to offer up a much better alternative which was hated by the voters because it was pro immigrant rights. It gave undocumented workers a way to get a legal driver's license.

Bedwetting is a habit hard to break. Between all the terrorists and immigrants impending takeover of the US many want to be able to distinguish themselves as real red blooded americans. It is a brand, and those who want it are like cattle.

I don't know how much chance this has of becoming a reality, but if it happens in my lifetime, my guess is that the federal government will create a complete new outlaw class in this country. I'm a rather law-abiding computer guy that works in the defense industry, pays my taxes with little complaint and does a good job of contributing to the economy. This, I will resist. I will refuse to participate. Period. If that means I can no longer earn a living in this country, fine, I'll steal a living. Rob liquor stores, banks, whatever, But I won't get a biometric national ID. Not today, not ever.